Woman hospitalized after being attacked by dogs in Spartanburg

Wednesday

Jan 9, 2013 at 11:36 AM

Three dogs attacked a woman on South Center Street early Wednesday, leaving her hospitalized with serious injuries.

By KIM KIMZEYkim.kimzey@shj.com

Three dogs attacked a woman on South Center Street early Wednesday, leaving her hospitalized with serious injuries.The victim suffered extensive bites to her arms, legs, face and abdominal area and later lost consciousness. A Spartanburg Public Safety officer responding to a vicious dog complaint arrived at about 2:15 a.m. to 718 S. Center St. and saw the woman lying on the ground as two dogs were "biting/eating" her, according to an incident report.The officer yelled and kicked at the dogs, but that failed to stop them."The dogs continued to bite on the victim before turning their aggression towards the officer. The responding officer reported that she fired at the dogs causing them to release the woman and flee the area," according to a written statement from the Spartanburg Public Safety Department.One dog was shot and killed.The officer reported that another dog ran and entered the fence behind a house at 781 S. Center St. Authorities later determined this is where the dogs lived. One dog ran from behind the house and charged the officer who shot twice at the dog, causing it to retreat behind the house, the report states. Both dogs were eventually captured.The 44-year-old victim, Dreamer Denise Rice, lives on the same street where the attack occurred. Her medical condition was unavailable Wednesday afternoon.Capt. Art Littlejohn with Spartanburg Public Safety said no officers were hurt while responding to the incident.While the majority of the attack occurred in the city, the victim ran outside the city limits, where the attack continued.South Center Street winds past small, modest homes and woods. The porch and yard of the residence where the dogs lived was cluttered with furniture and items. What appeared to be wooden pallets blocked gaps in a chain-link fence where a "Beware of the Dog" sign crookedly hung. A Private Property sign was posted on a tree in front of the house.Spartanburg Public Safety is working with Spartanburg County Environmental Enforcement on the case.The dogs' owner, Ray Willis Williams, of 781 S. Center St., lives in the county.Environmental Enforcement Director Jamie Nelson said Williams was issued three citations because the dogs did not have visible or current proof of rabies vaccinations. Nelson said Williams admitted the dogs received their last vaccinations in 2010.Williams could face additional charges, authorities said.Nelson said Williams' home also was condemned Wednesday due to an insect infestation.The two live dogs and the body of the dead one were taken to the Spartanburg Humane Society.Katie Freseman, spokeswoman for the Spartanburg Humane Society, said all three appeared to be pit bulls or pit bull mixes. The two captured dogs have been quarantined.Freseman said that animals are generally quarantined for 10 days to see if they have any diseases.Freseman said none of the dogs had been neutered or spayed.One of the captured dogs is female, the other male.They did not bark as a photographer took their pictures. At times, the female wagged her tail. The male dog lay in a padlocked kennel. Freseman said the male dog was medicated for a punctured paw.Freseman said the law enforcement agency handling the case, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control and veterinary staff at the Spartanburg Humane Society will determine what to do with the dogs.The attack remains under investigation.Nelson said it's unknown why the dogs were agitated or what prompted the attack.Anyone with information about the case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIMESC or 864-596-2065.